Twaalf schelpen van diverse slakkensoorten 1705

Curator: Looking at this artwork, I immediately think of the precision and patience required to render each shell. Editor: Indeed. This engraving, “Twaalf schelpen van diverse slakkensoorten” or "Twelve Shells of Various Snail Species," by Jacob de Later, dates to 1705 and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: De Later’s composition adheres to a distinct organizing principle, a taxonomic approach that highlights variations within the group of shells and also shows an effort towards realistic shading. Editor: Absolutely, and in considering its making, imagine the engraver’s focus: the close observation and repetitive, delicate manipulation of tools on metal. It highlights labor's involvement in natural observation, during the Baroque era. Shells were also a material status symbol for trade in Europe during this period. Curator: Yes, the engraved line here serves not just to depict, but also to categorize. There’s a desire to organize and systematize the natural world through visual means. I notice especially the variation in size and the almost scientific study. Editor: Quite, and it goes deeper; the circulation of these prints also meant the circulation of knowledge. Who were the printmakers, and for whom were these produced? The act of collecting, depicting, and distributing knowledge through prints democratized scientific visual culture in its own way. Curator: Fascinating. One begins to consider the broader impact these prints had within scholarly and artistic circles, it's amazing what we get from just a bunch of shells! Editor: In short, this detailed engraving offers not only beauty, but a rich entry point into the intersection of labor, science, and material culture of its time. It is fascinating to find nature preserved within culture this way.